Largest Cities in Falkland Islands

Facts about Falkland Islands

Official languages: English
Capital: Port Stanley
Area: 12,173 km²
Population: 2,638 residents
Population density: 0.22 residents per km²
Currency: FKP
Internet TLD: .fk
ISO codes: FK, FLK, 238
The telephone code for Falkland Islands is +500

The Falkland Islands (rarely also Malwinen, from the French Îles Malouines, English Falkland Islands, Spanish Islas Malvinas ) are a group of islands in the southern Atlantic. Geographically, they belong to South America and are 395 km east of southern Argentina and Tierra del Fuego. The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory with internal autonomy. The UK takes on defense and foreign policy. Since 1833 the Falkland Islands have been part of Argentinaclaimed. In 1982 there was an armed conflict over this, which Britain ultimately won.

In a referendum in March 2013, 99.8% of the residents of the Falkland Islands who were eligible to vote (3 against) voted to remain British. Argentina, however, did not recognize the vote.

The Falkland Islands consist of around 200 islands, the most important of which are the West and East Falklands, each with around 6,000 km². The climate is cold, windy and rainy. The annual average temperature is only 5 ° C. It rains or snows an average of 200 days a year.

The population is largely immigrant from the British Isles who came to the islands in the 1830s.

The islands are pretty insignificant economically. The most important export good is wool, trading partner is mainly Great Britain. The islands have no industry or industrial production, apart from fish factories or waltz cutting. The foreign trade deficit makes up about half of the gross domestic product. So the islands are totally dependent on Great Britain.
The discovery of large oil fields off the islands led to renewed political tension between Great Britain and Argentina in the late 1990s. Falkland has its own currency, the Falkland pound. This is linked to the British pound.

Population

Biggest Cities of Falkland Islands by Population

Stanley is the capital and largest city in the Falkland Islands. It is located on East Falkland, on a north-facing slope in one of the wettest parts of the islands. With a population of 2,115 people, it is by far the most populous urban area in the archipelago. It is known for its brightly colored houses, Victorian architecture, and its busy harbor. Stanley also has a variety of shops and services that cater to both local residents and visitors from abroad. The town has a museum, two churches – St. Mary’s Anglican Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral – a library, two pubs, three supermarkets and several restaurants. There are also several lodging options for visitors to the city including hotels, guesthouses and campgrounds. Additionally, Stanley is home to Government House – where the Governor of the Falkland Islands resides – as well as an airfield with regular flights to nearby islands such as Mount Pleasant Airport on East Falkland Island.